Coffee-lover David Huang always saw himself working with coffee.
Back in the day, he was a competitive barista. He went on to join Allpress Coffee as a barista trainer, and then started and ran his own Espresso Workshop from 2007 -2013. He’s also owned cafes in “buzzy” places like central Auckland and Remuera.
These days, he’s a national barista competition judge, and thrilled to be coaching and learning from the next generation of baristas; and his focus has turned from the buzz of competition achievement to the buzz of working within, creating and serving communities.
Until recently, his local community has been in Rosedale, at the Black & Gold café and roastery, which has won plaudits of its own for its food and coffee. Last month, David added another café to his CV. He still owns Black & Gold, but he’s arrived in Browns Bay. The new venture is A-Block, located just behind the main shopping strip, on a site that David thinks is perfect for creating the kind of community he wants. “I have a ‘thing’ for back street cafes. They’re better at creating community; this has a good community hub feeling, and it’s a great location for a café. This is going to be an iconic spot for Browns Bay,” he says boldly.
It certainly is a good spot: plenty of parking, facing the sun for most of the day and with an expansive outdoor deck that David has great plans for. The building was once a bakery and pie shop. David and his team have completely renovated the inside, with no detail spared full attention. Tables made by David and his team are complemented by an eclectic array of chairs, and eventually there’ll be an armada of coffee-sack cushions for extra comfort. An ‘A-Block’ mural with multiple layers of delicate paint and rich meaning occupies an entire wall and lends a softening touch to décor that features mostly wood, with hand-made shelves on perfectly aligned wooden tubes showing off David’s own coffee brand, Society Coffee, which is served at and can be bought as beans, or ground to order, from A-Block.
At present Society Coffee is still roasted at Black & Gold; a new roaster to serve both A-Block and Black & Gold is ready to be installed at the Brown Bay premises.
The food, as much as the coffee, grabs the attention. The menu speaks eloquently of the international tastes of David and his team of chefs and baristas, all of whom are asked to bring back ideas from wherever they might travel.
David says all the baking is done on site, including the breads and brioches, and that while the food will continue to have the same vibe, 50% of the menu is changed every six months, with the aim of giving customers what they want or are familiar with, but also giving them new things to try. He names as “must-try” dishes the Frying Dutchess (a contemporary riff on traditional Dutch patat frites with fresh chicken thigh, salad, a spicy sirracha aioli and good mozzarella, all on a base of double fried chips), or the Cheeky Phil Roll – a steak sandwich but with richly flavoured slow-cooked beef cheek instead of the more traditional sirloin, complemented by caramelised onion, provolone, jalapeno and capsicum slaw, again served with double fried chips.
There are also plenty of sweet and savoury breakfast/brunch dishes, and ample options for vegans and vegetarians. The sodas, juices and smoothies (try the peanut butter, chocolate banana and almond milk if you’re looking for a treat) are also all made on the premises – along with the coffee of course!
All in all, A-Block is shaping up to be not only Browns Bay’s go-to local for an exciting take on café food, but also a great place to chill out and link with friends or other locals. David is certain to be on hand, making sure that whether you’re there for a coffee or a more substantial feast, you truly feel part of the community he’s setting out to establish.
A-Block Café and Roastery, 76 Clyde Road, Browns Bay (entry off Bute Road)
09 476 6878 info@societycoffee.co.nz Insta: @ablock.nz
Open seven days, 7.30am-4pm.
